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May 7, 2024
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FREESTEM Daily Curio #2868Free1 CQ
What’s that droning noise? Only the sound of a flying minesweeper. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left the latter country dealing with deadly landmines laid throughout their territory. Removing such mines is a dangerous, time-consuming process, but drones and AI are now making it safer and easier. The use of landmines is forbidden by the UN per a treaty signed by 167 nations, but they continue to be used anyway. Part of the reason for the ban is that landmines are, by their very design, difficult to detect. The danger they pose during wartime is devastating enough, but in many cases, landmines continue to do harm years after whatever conflict elicited their use has ended. Even today, it’s not uncommon to hear about mines from long-concluded wars taking the lives of unsuspecting civilians. And it’s not just mines but undetonated bombs and shells lurking underground. There are a number of ways to find these dangerous weapons, but everything from metal detectors to people scanning aerial photographs to spot mines are excruciatingly slow. With conventional methods like these, it could take Ukraine as long as 750 years to be totally clear of landmines in the 67,000-square-mile area that is thought to be affected. That’s why they’re now turning to a method that’s currently considered unconventional, but might soon be the norm—a combination of drones and AI. A company called Safe Pro AI has developed an algorithm that can scan thousands of aerial photographs taken by drones and identify 70 types of landmines and other explosives with an accuracy rate of 90 percent. Currently, the technology is limited to land mines that are close to the surface and not obscured by vegetation, but the company hopes to improve on this by adding thermal imaging and radars to find more well-hidden mines. The technology isn’t meant to completely replace conventional methods of mine detection; instead, it’s meant to drastically ease the burden of locating the majority of them. This is one job that we’re glad to see AI take over.
What’s that droning noise? Only the sound of a flying minesweeper. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left the latter country dealing with deadly landmines laid throughout their territory. Removing such mines is a dangerous, time-consuming process, but drones and AI are now making it safer and easier. The use of landmines is forbidden by the UN per a treaty signed by 167 nations, but they continue to be used anyway. Part of the reason for the ban is that landmines are, by their very design, difficult to detect. The danger they pose during wartime is devastating enough, but in many cases, landmines continue to do harm years after whatever conflict elicited their use has ended. Even today, it’s not uncommon to hear about mines from long-concluded wars taking the lives of unsuspecting civilians. And it’s not just mines but undetonated bombs and shells lurking underground. There are a number of ways to find these dangerous weapons, but everything from metal detectors to people scanning aerial photographs to spot mines are excruciatingly slow. With conventional methods like these, it could take Ukraine as long as 750 years to be totally clear of landmines in the 67,000-square-mile area that is thought to be affected. That’s why they’re now turning to a method that’s currently considered unconventional, but might soon be the norm—a combination of drones and AI. A company called Safe Pro AI has developed an algorithm that can scan thousands of aerial photographs taken by drones and identify 70 types of landmines and other explosives with an accuracy rate of 90 percent. Currently, the technology is limited to land mines that are close to the surface and not obscured by vegetation, but the company hopes to improve on this by adding thermal imaging and radars to find more well-hidden mines. The technology isn’t meant to completely replace conventional methods of mine detection; instead, it’s meant to drastically ease the burden of locating the majority of them. This is one job that we’re glad to see AI take over.
May 6, 2024
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
No need to beg for mercy from this deity; mercy is kind of their whole thing. Guanyin is a deity of Chinese mythology and Buddhism who helps people in the afterlife. The ancient sculpture above, Seated Guanyin, depicts the deity sitting with one leg raised and one arm resting atop it. The figure is wearing a crown and jewelry, and there are faint traces of red and gold paint. Guanyin was the Chinese name for the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. A bodhisattva is someone who is on their way to attaining Buddhahood, and they are often revered as deities in their own right. In the case of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva vowed to delay his own Buddhahood until every sentient being escaped Samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. In China, Guanyin is mostly depicted in their female form, and English translations of her title refer to her as the Goddess of Mercy. When someone manages to leave Samsara and is on their way to the Pure Land, the eternal afterlife, Guanyin is said to send them on their way in the heart of a lotus. It seems a fitting way to get around in a blissful afterlife.
Seated Guanyin, late 1100s–1200s, Wood with polychromy and gilding, 54.31 in. (138 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1984.70, Public Domain Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation.]No need to beg for mercy from this deity; mercy is kind of their whole thing. Guanyin is a deity of Chinese mythology and Buddhism who helps people in the afterlife. The ancient sculpture above, Seated Guanyin, depicts the deity sitting with one leg raised and one arm resting atop it. The figure is wearing a crown and jewelry, and there are faint traces of red and gold paint. Guanyin was the Chinese name for the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. A bodhisattva is someone who is on their way to attaining Buddhahood, and they are often revered as deities in their own right. In the case of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva vowed to delay his own Buddhahood until every sentient being escaped Samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. In China, Guanyin is mostly depicted in their female form, and English translations of her title refer to her as the Goddess of Mercy. When someone manages to leave Samsara and is on their way to the Pure Land, the eternal afterlife, Guanyin is said to send them on their way in the heart of a lotus. It seems a fitting way to get around in a blissful afterlife.
Seated Guanyin, late 1100s–1200s, Wood with polychromy and gilding, 54.31 in. (138 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1984.70, Public Domain Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation.] -
FREEOutdoors Daily Curio #2867Free1 CQ
Bon appétit! The French are renowned for their culinary fare, but they’ll be adding a new twist on May 26, when Parisians will be holding a truly giant picnic. The event will take place at Champs-Élysées, one of the most iconic streets in the city, and will accommodate 4,000 diners and even more bystanders. Unlike most picnics, baskets needn’t be brought, as one will be provided to each participant for free with a variety of culinary contributions from nine area restaurants. The oversized picnic is the brainchild of the Champs-Élysées Committee and LG Electronics France, and is intended to encourage tourism. Paris is the most visited city in the world, but the pandemic dealt a massive blow to the travel industry. Over the last two years, visitors have been returning to the City of Light en masse, and in 2023, the city saw 44 million visitors throughout the year. That’s still 13 percent lower than it was before the pandemic in 2019, so organizers of the picnic hope that their event will encourage more tourism in the near future. While the picnic will be open to anyone—residents and tourists alike—tickets will only be available in a raffle, with winners chosen at random for two time slots—one at noon and another at 2 p.m. Despite its expected size, this actually won’t be the biggest picnic ever held. According to Guinness World Records, the world’s largest picnic took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2009 and saw 22,232 diners. That, too, was the result of local officials trying to boost tourism, and the picnic successfully drew in people from all around the country. However, the picnic in Paris will still set another world record. For the event, organizers will roll out the world’s largest giant picnic blanket, which will be over 700 feet long. Each square of the red-and-white checkered blanket will be large enough to seat six people. If you’re at the picnic and happen to spill some red wine, just try to do it on one of the red squares.
[Image description: Croissants and other food on a blue picnic blanket outdoors.] Credit & copyright: Maksim Goncharenok, PexelsBon appétit! The French are renowned for their culinary fare, but they’ll be adding a new twist on May 26, when Parisians will be holding a truly giant picnic. The event will take place at Champs-Élysées, one of the most iconic streets in the city, and will accommodate 4,000 diners and even more bystanders. Unlike most picnics, baskets needn’t be brought, as one will be provided to each participant for free with a variety of culinary contributions from nine area restaurants. The oversized picnic is the brainchild of the Champs-Élysées Committee and LG Electronics France, and is intended to encourage tourism. Paris is the most visited city in the world, but the pandemic dealt a massive blow to the travel industry. Over the last two years, visitors have been returning to the City of Light en masse, and in 2023, the city saw 44 million visitors throughout the year. That’s still 13 percent lower than it was before the pandemic in 2019, so organizers of the picnic hope that their event will encourage more tourism in the near future. While the picnic will be open to anyone—residents and tourists alike—tickets will only be available in a raffle, with winners chosen at random for two time slots—one at noon and another at 2 p.m. Despite its expected size, this actually won’t be the biggest picnic ever held. According to Guinness World Records, the world’s largest picnic took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2009 and saw 22,232 diners. That, too, was the result of local officials trying to boost tourism, and the picnic successfully drew in people from all around the country. However, the picnic in Paris will still set another world record. For the event, organizers will roll out the world’s largest giant picnic blanket, which will be over 700 feet long. Each square of the red-and-white checkered blanket will be large enough to seat six people. If you’re at the picnic and happen to spill some red wine, just try to do it on one of the red squares.
[Image description: Croissants and other food on a blue picnic blanket outdoors.] Credit & copyright: Maksim Goncharenok, Pexels
May 5, 2024
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FREESports PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
Can you hold on? That simple question is the heart of bull riding, the most popular event in modern rodeos. There are plenty of other events too, though, from barrel racing to calf roping, and all of them grew out of what were once daily chores for ranch workers. Some rodeo fans might be surprised to learn that, despite the sport’s all-American image, rodeos were originally shaped by Mexican and Spanish traditions. In fact, the very word “rodeo” comes from the Spanish word “rodear,” which means “to ride.”
While humans have surely been trying to ride unruly animals since time immemorial, rodeos as they are today have their origins in 19th-century Mexico. The pioneers of the sport were vaqueros—Mexican cowboys—who traveled constantly in search of work. Vaqueros, like their American counterparts, were a rowdy, diverse bunch hailing from all ethnic backgrounds. The work of driving cattle was difficult, unglamorous, and basically available to anyone willing to take the job. Due to their lifestyle, the vaqueros had little money or property to their names. What they could own were bragging rights by showing off the skills of their trade. Vaqueros would come together between busy seasons to participate in competitions that tested their abilities. The most prestigious event was, unsurprisingly, riding broncos—wild horses who did not take kindly to strangers on their backs. These mighty beasts would buck and jump in an effort to throw off a rider, and whoever could hold on longest was the winner. It was a simple format for a sport, but it’s mostly the same today.
Rodeos began gaining popularity in the American West with the annexation of a large part of Mexico in 1845. Along with the land came vaquero culture, which mingled with existing cowboy culture in U.S. territories. The first American to really bring the sport into the limelight was William F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill. Cody wasn’t just another cowboy in the fading Wild West of America, but an enterprising showman. Until then, rodeos had been small, loosely organized events used to pass the downtime in rural areas. Cody began marketing rodeos to large audiences as a sporting extravaganza. In 1883, Cody launched Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which featured a variety of acts like stunt shows and sharpshooters. But the most enduring events were bronc riding and bull riding, the latter of which had roots in bullfighting and bulldogging, in which a cowboy would attempt to wrestle a bull to the ground. If these activities sound absurdly dangerous, that’s because they are, but that was also their appeal. Buffalo Bill’s show drew in 3 million attendees in 1893 during the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and the show ran for decades.
Today, the rules are much the same: for either broncs or bulls, hold on for dear life for eight seconds. There are more rules, of course, such as using only one hand and being scored based on the difficulty of the mount. There have also been some changes over the years, like helmets and puncture-proof vests for bull riders. When those aren’t enough, though, rodeo clowns come in to distract the animal and get a fallen rider to safety. The biggest bull riding league today is Professional Bull Riders (PBR), which draws talent from around the world to events in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Australia. They may also be implementing a major change: instead of eight seconds, PBR is shortening the ride to just six seconds to address the increasingly stronger animals being bred for the sport. You just can’t take those bulls by the horns…seriously, it’s not advised to do so.
[Image description: A black-and-white photo of a man riding a bull with one hand in the air.] Credit & copyright: Published by Southwest Georgia Regional Library, Bainbridge, Georgia. 1944. Wikimedia Commons. This media file is in the public domain in the United States.Can you hold on? That simple question is the heart of bull riding, the most popular event in modern rodeos. There are plenty of other events too, though, from barrel racing to calf roping, and all of them grew out of what were once daily chores for ranch workers. Some rodeo fans might be surprised to learn that, despite the sport’s all-American image, rodeos were originally shaped by Mexican and Spanish traditions. In fact, the very word “rodeo” comes from the Spanish word “rodear,” which means “to ride.”
While humans have surely been trying to ride unruly animals since time immemorial, rodeos as they are today have their origins in 19th-century Mexico. The pioneers of the sport were vaqueros—Mexican cowboys—who traveled constantly in search of work. Vaqueros, like their American counterparts, were a rowdy, diverse bunch hailing from all ethnic backgrounds. The work of driving cattle was difficult, unglamorous, and basically available to anyone willing to take the job. Due to their lifestyle, the vaqueros had little money or property to their names. What they could own were bragging rights by showing off the skills of their trade. Vaqueros would come together between busy seasons to participate in competitions that tested their abilities. The most prestigious event was, unsurprisingly, riding broncos—wild horses who did not take kindly to strangers on their backs. These mighty beasts would buck and jump in an effort to throw off a rider, and whoever could hold on longest was the winner. It was a simple format for a sport, but it’s mostly the same today.
Rodeos began gaining popularity in the American West with the annexation of a large part of Mexico in 1845. Along with the land came vaquero culture, which mingled with existing cowboy culture in U.S. territories. The first American to really bring the sport into the limelight was William F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill. Cody wasn’t just another cowboy in the fading Wild West of America, but an enterprising showman. Until then, rodeos had been small, loosely organized events used to pass the downtime in rural areas. Cody began marketing rodeos to large audiences as a sporting extravaganza. In 1883, Cody launched Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which featured a variety of acts like stunt shows and sharpshooters. But the most enduring events were bronc riding and bull riding, the latter of which had roots in bullfighting and bulldogging, in which a cowboy would attempt to wrestle a bull to the ground. If these activities sound absurdly dangerous, that’s because they are, but that was also their appeal. Buffalo Bill’s show drew in 3 million attendees in 1893 during the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and the show ran for decades.
Today, the rules are much the same: for either broncs or bulls, hold on for dear life for eight seconds. There are more rules, of course, such as using only one hand and being scored based on the difficulty of the mount. There have also been some changes over the years, like helmets and puncture-proof vests for bull riders. When those aren’t enough, though, rodeo clowns come in to distract the animal and get a fallen rider to safety. The biggest bull riding league today is Professional Bull Riders (PBR), which draws talent from around the world to events in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Australia. They may also be implementing a major change: instead of eight seconds, PBR is shortening the ride to just six seconds to address the increasingly stronger animals being bred for the sport. You just can’t take those bulls by the horns…seriously, it’s not advised to do so.
[Image description: A black-and-white photo of a man riding a bull with one hand in the air.] Credit & copyright: Published by Southwest Georgia Regional Library, Bainbridge, Georgia. 1944. Wikimedia Commons. This media file is in the public domain in the United States.
May 4, 2024
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FREEFootball Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
He might be a newbie, but he's not exactly green. The Buffalo Bills just drafted Travis Clayton, a man who has never played American football competitively. Yet, the pick isn’t raising many eyebrows. That’s because Clayton is a rugby player and a graduate of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program. The program is an intensive, 10-week boot camp for athletes who, like Clayton, have limited experience playing football. To qualify for the program, the candidate must not be a resident of the U.S. or Canada, and must not have attended high school in either country for more than two years. Since it was established in 2017, the program has produced 37 international players to date, with 18 still on rosters. Among them is Jordan Mailata, an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles who also came from rugby before stepping on the gridiron. Clayton will be playing the same position, and he’s following in some impressive footsteps, as Mailata is one of the best OTs in the NFL right now. On paper, the 303-pound, 6-foot-7-inch Clayton seems more than capable, running a 4.79 second 40-yard dash. No wonder they put him on the fast track.
He might be a newbie, but he's not exactly green. The Buffalo Bills just drafted Travis Clayton, a man who has never played American football competitively. Yet, the pick isn’t raising many eyebrows. That’s because Clayton is a rugby player and a graduate of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program. The program is an intensive, 10-week boot camp for athletes who, like Clayton, have limited experience playing football. To qualify for the program, the candidate must not be a resident of the U.S. or Canada, and must not have attended high school in either country for more than two years. Since it was established in 2017, the program has produced 37 international players to date, with 18 still on rosters. Among them is Jordan Mailata, an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles who also came from rugby before stepping on the gridiron. Clayton will be playing the same position, and he’s following in some impressive footsteps, as Mailata is one of the best OTs in the NFL right now. On paper, the 303-pound, 6-foot-7-inch Clayton seems more than capable, running a 4.79 second 40-yard dash. No wonder they put him on the fast track.
May 3, 2024
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FREEMind + Body Daily CurioFree1 CQ
Fancy a wee bit o' haggis? This legendary food, long considered the national dish of Scotland, might be something of an acquired taste. Many a tourist has squirmed at the thought of eating a stuffed sheep’s stomach, but haggis plays an integral role in Scottish history…and in a common Scottish joke.
Haggis is considered to be a pudding in the UK. While “pudding” is a custardy dessert in the U.S., in the UK the word refers to any savory or sweet dish that is boiled or steamed inside of something, from a covered pan to a piece of cloth. Traditionally, haggis is cooked (and served) in a sheep’s stomach. The stomach is stuffed with chopped sheep’s “pluck” or “offal”, meaning organ meat or other body parts. These can include the heart, liver, tongue, lungs, and even brain. Stock made from the offal, as well as the offal itself, are stuffed inside a sheep’s stomach along with suet (animal fat), oatmeal, minced onions, and spices like pepper, nutmeg, and coriander. The stomach is then tied off and simmered in water to cook. The end result is a meal that resembles a crumbly sausage with a savory, gamey flavor.
Haggis has been around for centuries; its name might have evolved from a French word used in the Middle Ages: “hachis”, which means chopped animal parts. The first written record of the Scottish dish comes from the 1430 cookbook Liber Cure Cocorum, where it was referred to as “hagws of a schepe”, roughly meaning “chopped parts of a sheep.” Haggis became a popular peasant dish since it helped preserve offal, which was usually quick to spoil. Its popularity surged in 1786, when famed Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote Address to a Haggis, in which he referred to the dish as the “great chieftain o' the puddin-race.” To this day, many Scots enjoy what is known as a “Burns supper” on the night of January 25, the writer’s birthday. The meal consists of haggis with "neeps", or boiled rutabaga, and "tatties", or mashed potatoes. A dram, or glass of Scottish whisky, is also served.
Haggis isn’t all about tradition and solemnity, though. One long-standing Scottish joke is that haggis isn’t made from sheep at all—it’s actually the meat of a shaggy, rodent-like animal. This fictional beast is said to have long legs on one side of its body so that it can run around mountains without falling over. Drawings, sculptures, and even stuffed animals of the folkloric haggis can be found in gift shops throughout Scotland. Plenty of gullible tourists have been fooled by the joke. In fact, one poll revealed that 33 percent of Americans visiting Scotland believed in wild haggises. Or is it “haggi” when there’s more than one?
[Image description: A close-up photo of a sheep’s face looking down at the camera.] Credit & copyright: Rudy and Peter Skitterians, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.Fancy a wee bit o' haggis? This legendary food, long considered the national dish of Scotland, might be something of an acquired taste. Many a tourist has squirmed at the thought of eating a stuffed sheep’s stomach, but haggis plays an integral role in Scottish history…and in a common Scottish joke.
Haggis is considered to be a pudding in the UK. While “pudding” is a custardy dessert in the U.S., in the UK the word refers to any savory or sweet dish that is boiled or steamed inside of something, from a covered pan to a piece of cloth. Traditionally, haggis is cooked (and served) in a sheep’s stomach. The stomach is stuffed with chopped sheep’s “pluck” or “offal”, meaning organ meat or other body parts. These can include the heart, liver, tongue, lungs, and even brain. Stock made from the offal, as well as the offal itself, are stuffed inside a sheep’s stomach along with suet (animal fat), oatmeal, minced onions, and spices like pepper, nutmeg, and coriander. The stomach is then tied off and simmered in water to cook. The end result is a meal that resembles a crumbly sausage with a savory, gamey flavor.
Haggis has been around for centuries; its name might have evolved from a French word used in the Middle Ages: “hachis”, which means chopped animal parts. The first written record of the Scottish dish comes from the 1430 cookbook Liber Cure Cocorum, where it was referred to as “hagws of a schepe”, roughly meaning “chopped parts of a sheep.” Haggis became a popular peasant dish since it helped preserve offal, which was usually quick to spoil. Its popularity surged in 1786, when famed Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote Address to a Haggis, in which he referred to the dish as the “great chieftain o' the puddin-race.” To this day, many Scots enjoy what is known as a “Burns supper” on the night of January 25, the writer’s birthday. The meal consists of haggis with "neeps", or boiled rutabaga, and "tatties", or mashed potatoes. A dram, or glass of Scottish whisky, is also served.
Haggis isn’t all about tradition and solemnity, though. One long-standing Scottish joke is that haggis isn’t made from sheep at all—it’s actually the meat of a shaggy, rodent-like animal. This fictional beast is said to have long legs on one side of its body so that it can run around mountains without falling over. Drawings, sculptures, and even stuffed animals of the folkloric haggis can be found in gift shops throughout Scotland. Plenty of gullible tourists have been fooled by the joke. In fact, one poll revealed that 33 percent of Americans visiting Scotland believed in wild haggises. Or is it “haggi” when there’s more than one?
[Image description: A close-up photo of a sheep’s face looking down at the camera.] Credit & copyright: Rudy and Peter Skitterians, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
May 2, 2024
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FREESTEM Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
What has six limbs, a hard outer shell, and loves pollinating flowers? It’s not a bee, it’s the Stickbug! While bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators are essential for agriculture, many species are currently on the decline. Thus, a team of robotics researchers at West Virginia University have developed a robot named Stickbug that might help fill in the gaps, according to a paper published in arXiv. As the team wrote in their paper, Stickbug is “a six-armed, multi-agent, precision pollination robot that combines the accuracy of single-agent systems with swarm parallelization in greenhouses.” There are other pollinating robots, but they tend to be specialized and limited in scope, only able to pollinate certain types of flowers. Stickbug, on the other hand, is capable of pollinating a wider variety of flowers thanks to its six robotic manipulators. Like its namesake, the robot’s main body is long and thin with six robotic arms, each with its own manipulator. For navigation, it uses a compact holonomic Kiwi drive, and it uses a felt-tipped finger to spread pollen. The researchers hope that the robot can be used in places where natural pollinator populations have declined. To that end, they believe that Stickbug has the potential to be highly scalable. Unfortunately, Stickbug probably won’t be making honey anytime soon.
[Image description: A field of green crops in the sunset.] Credit & copyright: Alejandro Barrón, Pexels
What has six limbs, a hard outer shell, and loves pollinating flowers? It’s not a bee, it’s the Stickbug! While bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators are essential for agriculture, many species are currently on the decline. Thus, a team of robotics researchers at West Virginia University have developed a robot named Stickbug that might help fill in the gaps, according to a paper published in arXiv. As the team wrote in their paper, Stickbug is “a six-armed, multi-agent, precision pollination robot that combines the accuracy of single-agent systems with swarm parallelization in greenhouses.” There are other pollinating robots, but they tend to be specialized and limited in scope, only able to pollinate certain types of flowers. Stickbug, on the other hand, is capable of pollinating a wider variety of flowers thanks to its six robotic manipulators. Like its namesake, the robot’s main body is long and thin with six robotic arms, each with its own manipulator. For navigation, it uses a compact holonomic Kiwi drive, and it uses a felt-tipped finger to spread pollen. The researchers hope that the robot can be used in places where natural pollinator populations have declined. To that end, they believe that Stickbug has the potential to be highly scalable. Unfortunately, Stickbug probably won’t be making honey anytime soon.
[Image description: A field of green crops in the sunset.] Credit & copyright: Alejandro Barrón, Pexels
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FREETravel Daily Curio #2866Free1 CQ
Sure the desert view is nice, but driving through it can be a slog. Unfortunately, if you want to get from, say, Los Angeles to Las Vegas, it’s the only option besides flying. Soon, though, a high-speed rail line may be taking passengers through the Mojave. Bullet trains are commonplace in some other parts of the world but though the U.S. was once defined by its expansive railways, it has fallen behind in terms of train technology. It’s not for lack of demand, either. In the state of California, many residents have been waiting with bated breath for a fabled high-speed rail line that would connect Los Angeles to San Francisco. Construction of the 500-mile line was approved by voters in 2008, but the project has been plagued by setbacks and has far surpassed the original budget, tripling in cost to $105 billion and counting. While it might seem like this new line could meet the same fate, the company heading the project has a decent track record of delivering on promises. Brightline, which is based in Florida, has already built a 235-mile-long, high-speed line that connects Orlando and Miami. In California and Nevada, the company will be laying down 218 miles along the median of I-15, connecting Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, which has commuter line connections to Los Angeles. Even without a direct connection to Los Angeles, the line will be a shorter trip than just driving. The 218-mile stretch of I-15 takes about four hours to traverse by car, but the train will cut that time in half. Not to mention that it’ll include bathrooms, wi-fi, food, and beverages for its passengers. The line will also improve conditions for those who opt to drive anyway, as it’s expected to accommodate as many as 11 million travelers that would have otherwise driven over the highway, which sees an average of 44,000 drivers per day. Next stop: Sin City.
[Image description: A close-up photo of train tracks.] Credit & copyright: Brett Sayles, PexelsSure the desert view is nice, but driving through it can be a slog. Unfortunately, if you want to get from, say, Los Angeles to Las Vegas, it’s the only option besides flying. Soon, though, a high-speed rail line may be taking passengers through the Mojave. Bullet trains are commonplace in some other parts of the world but though the U.S. was once defined by its expansive railways, it has fallen behind in terms of train technology. It’s not for lack of demand, either. In the state of California, many residents have been waiting with bated breath for a fabled high-speed rail line that would connect Los Angeles to San Francisco. Construction of the 500-mile line was approved by voters in 2008, but the project has been plagued by setbacks and has far surpassed the original budget, tripling in cost to $105 billion and counting. While it might seem like this new line could meet the same fate, the company heading the project has a decent track record of delivering on promises. Brightline, which is based in Florida, has already built a 235-mile-long, high-speed line that connects Orlando and Miami. In California and Nevada, the company will be laying down 218 miles along the median of I-15, connecting Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, which has commuter line connections to Los Angeles. Even without a direct connection to Los Angeles, the line will be a shorter trip than just driving. The 218-mile stretch of I-15 takes about four hours to traverse by car, but the train will cut that time in half. Not to mention that it’ll include bathrooms, wi-fi, food, and beverages for its passengers. The line will also improve conditions for those who opt to drive anyway, as it’s expected to accommodate as many as 11 million travelers that would have otherwise driven over the highway, which sees an average of 44,000 drivers per day. Next stop: Sin City.
[Image description: A close-up photo of train tracks.] Credit & copyright: Brett Sayles, Pexels
May 1, 2024
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FREETravel Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
If you’ve ever ditched your car to ride the rails in the U.S., chances are you’ve interacted with this corporation. On this day in 1971, Amtrak, a corporation that operates nearly all U.S. passenger trains, began running. Amtrak was actually started by a U.S. President—Richard Nixon to be precise—who in 1970 signed the Rail Passenger Service Act, creating the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, which later became Amtrak. From day one, Amtrak operated 184 trains, with the first one running between New York City and Philadelphia. Today, more than 300 Amtrak trains run throughout the country. It’s important to note, though, that Amtrak isn’t a private company. Rather, it’s a federally chartered corporation, meaning that the federal government is a majority stockholder. The government is heavily involved in Amtrak’s operations; the corporation’s board of directors is appointed by the U.S. president and confirmed by the senate. It may seem strange, but Amtrak also doesn’t own the tracks that their trains run on. Rather, most U.S. tracks are privately owned and operated, with a few owned by state governments or even the federal government. It’s a confusing system, but it’s meant to ensure that both public and private interests work together to keep American trains running safely. Hey, if it works it works!
If you’ve ever ditched your car to ride the rails in the U.S., chances are you’ve interacted with this corporation. On this day in 1971, Amtrak, a corporation that operates nearly all U.S. passenger trains, began running. Amtrak was actually started by a U.S. President—Richard Nixon to be precise—who in 1970 signed the Rail Passenger Service Act, creating the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, which later became Amtrak. From day one, Amtrak operated 184 trains, with the first one running between New York City and Philadelphia. Today, more than 300 Amtrak trains run throughout the country. It’s important to note, though, that Amtrak isn’t a private company. Rather, it’s a federally chartered corporation, meaning that the federal government is a majority stockholder. The government is heavily involved in Amtrak’s operations; the corporation’s board of directors is appointed by the U.S. president and confirmed by the senate. It may seem strange, but Amtrak also doesn’t own the tracks that their trains run on. Rather, most U.S. tracks are privately owned and operated, with a few owned by state governments or even the federal government. It’s a confusing system, but it’s meant to ensure that both public and private interests work together to keep American trains running safely. Hey, if it works it works!
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FREEUS History Daily Curio #2865Free1 CQ
For heads of state, the hardest part of the Cold War was keeping cool. But on this day in 1960, things got a little heated between the East and West when an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. The U-2 spy plane was a single-occupant plane developed in the 1950s to perform high-altitude reconnaissance for the CIA and was heavily used during the Cold War. When this particular U-2 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile during a mission originally planned to span 2,900 miles, its sole operator, Francis Gary Powers, found himself alone on foreign soil. After parachuting to safety, Powers was quickly captured and held in Moscow while Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev demanded answers from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The incident couldn’t have happened at a worse time; the two nations were planning to meet in Paris to discuss ongoing issues regarding a divided Germany, which had been partitioned after WWII. The idea of American spy planes in their airspace wasn’t well-received by the Soviet Union, and the incident put the upcoming Paris summit under threat. It also dragged several other countries into the mess. According to testimony from Powers, he had been taking off from airfields in Pakistan, Norway, and Turkey, all of which received protest notes from the Soviet Union. Meantime, the U.S. denied culpability, claiming that the flights were unauthorized and that they had no knowledge of them. Pakistan, Norway and Turkey, in turn, sent letters to the U.S. demanding that they cease all flights from their territories. In reality, the spy plane program was a matter of great interest to Eisenhower, who personally authorized each flight. Nevertheless, he sent assurances to his Soviet counterpart that no such flights would be made for the rest of his term, though he also refused to apologize for them. The refusal sunk any hopes for the Paris summit, as Khrushchev refused to maintain diplomatic discussions with the U.S. for the rest of Eisenhower’s term, only resuming once John F. Kennedy took office. As for Powers, he was tried and found guilty of spying. He served two years of his ten-year sentence, until he was exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. An eye for an eye and a spy for a spy.
[Image description: A black Lockheed U-2 aircraft flying over clouds.] Credit & copyright: Wikipedia, Picture prepared for Wikipedia by Adrian Pingstone in April 2003. This image or file is a work of a U.S. Air Force Airman or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain in the United States.For heads of state, the hardest part of the Cold War was keeping cool. But on this day in 1960, things got a little heated between the East and West when an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. The U-2 spy plane was a single-occupant plane developed in the 1950s to perform high-altitude reconnaissance for the CIA and was heavily used during the Cold War. When this particular U-2 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile during a mission originally planned to span 2,900 miles, its sole operator, Francis Gary Powers, found himself alone on foreign soil. After parachuting to safety, Powers was quickly captured and held in Moscow while Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev demanded answers from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The incident couldn’t have happened at a worse time; the two nations were planning to meet in Paris to discuss ongoing issues regarding a divided Germany, which had been partitioned after WWII. The idea of American spy planes in their airspace wasn’t well-received by the Soviet Union, and the incident put the upcoming Paris summit under threat. It also dragged several other countries into the mess. According to testimony from Powers, he had been taking off from airfields in Pakistan, Norway, and Turkey, all of which received protest notes from the Soviet Union. Meantime, the U.S. denied culpability, claiming that the flights were unauthorized and that they had no knowledge of them. Pakistan, Norway and Turkey, in turn, sent letters to the U.S. demanding that they cease all flights from their territories. In reality, the spy plane program was a matter of great interest to Eisenhower, who personally authorized each flight. Nevertheless, he sent assurances to his Soviet counterpart that no such flights would be made for the rest of his term, though he also refused to apologize for them. The refusal sunk any hopes for the Paris summit, as Khrushchev refused to maintain diplomatic discussions with the U.S. for the rest of Eisenhower’s term, only resuming once John F. Kennedy took office. As for Powers, he was tried and found guilty of spying. He served two years of his ten-year sentence, until he was exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. An eye for an eye and a spy for a spy.
[Image description: A black Lockheed U-2 aircraft flying over clouds.] Credit & copyright: Wikipedia, Picture prepared for Wikipedia by Adrian Pingstone in April 2003. This image or file is a work of a U.S. Air Force Airman or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain in the United States.